BIOSYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF IRON SULFIDE (FeS) NANOPARTICLES AND EVALUATION THEIR APHICIDAL ACTIVITY ON THE GREEN PEACH APHID MYZUS PERSICAE (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE)

In this study, the green route method for of iron sulfide (FeS) nanoparticles was used. The iron sulfide nanoparticles synthesized using sodium sulfide nonahydrate (Na2S.9H(2)O) and ferrous chloride tetra hydrate (FeCl2.4H(2)O) in combination with Artemis herba-alba leaves extract as reducing and stabilizing agent. Biosynthesized iron sulfide nanoparticles were characterized and documented via Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transfer electron microscope (TEM) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis). The functional groups for the Artemis herba-alba leaves extract were also determined using FTIR analysis. The morphology of biosynthesized iron sulfide nanoparticles was spherical in shape with size around 40 nm. The toxicity of green synthesized FeS NPs against the green peach aphid was evaluated. The results revealed that these nanoparticles were effective in increasing mortality percent of the green peach aphid with increasing concentrations in ppm. The LC50 was also determined and reported. LC50 for biosynthesized iron sulfide nanoparticles was 251 ppm and 302 ppm against the early and late nymphal instars of the green peach aphid. In conclusion, the biosynthesized iron sulfide nanoparticles would be promising tools to be implemented in integrated pest management of green peach aphid but needed further works at the field level.